Shloka 49

Kāmarūpeśvara’s Trial and Śiva’s Hidden Protection (कামरूपेश्वर-रक्षा-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

ततश्चौषधयो जाता नानाकार्यकरास्तथा । रूपान्तरं ततो नॄणां भवेद्वेषांतरं तथा

Transliteration

tataścauṣadhayo jātā nānākāryakarāstathā | rūpāntaraṃ tato nṝṇāṃ bhavedveṣāṃtaraṃ tathā

Translation

Then medicinal herbs arose, each capable of producing many different effects. Thereafter, among human beings, differences of form came to be, and likewise differences in outward appearance and attire.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Hetu/Anantarya (अनन्तर्य/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-आदि (ablatival adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• औषधयः: medicinal herbs
• औषधयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औषधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• जाताः: arose, were born
• जाताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तरि (agreeing with औषधयः)

• नाना-कार्य-कराः: performing various functions
• नाना-कार्य-कराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (औषधयः); समासः: नाना (बहुविध) + कार्यकर (कार्यं करोति)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• रूप-अन्तरम्: a change of form
• रूप-अन्तरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रूपस्य अन्तरम् = change of form)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Hetu/Anantarya (अनन्तर्य/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-आदि (ablatival adverb)

• नॄणाम्: of men
• नॄणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• भवेत्: would become / would occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेष-अन्तरम्: a change of appearance/guise
• वेष-अन्तरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेषस्य अन्तरम् = change of guise)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It points to how worldly diversity—healing herbs with varied powers and humans with varied forms and appearances—arises within prakṛti (pāśa), while the ultimate aim in Shaiva Siddhanta is to recognize the Lord (Pati) beyond these external differentiations.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By highlighting changing forms and outer guises, the verse implicitly supports Linga-worship as a stable, sacred focus: devotees approach Saguna Shiva through the Linga to transcend attachment to external differences and move toward Shiva’s higher truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to prioritize inner sādhana over external identity—steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined Shaiva observances (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and Rudrāksha with devotion) to remain anchored beyond changing appearances.